San Francisco Chef Brings Southeast Asian Cuisine To Peninsula

Red Lantern is now open in Redwood City's newly revitalized downtown center, bringing an elegant, chef-driven dining destination to the San Francisco Peninsula. Executive chef, Daniel Sudar, most recently chef de cuisine at San Francisco's popular Betelnut, has crafted a Southeast Asian, family-style menu that showcases dishes from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and other countries in the region.

"Our menu is inspired by the foods typically prepared in homes throughout Southeast Asia," said Sudar, 33, who was born and raised in Indonesia. "We refer to our food as 'cupboard cuisine,' because my approach is similar to that of a home cook who assembles a meal using what's on hand. There is no right or wrong when it comes to constructing a dish."

Red Lantern's owner, Jeffrey San Diego, 33, has put together a team of professionals who have worked together before and have a natural synergy. A former sous chef at San Mateo, Calif.-based Viognier, San Diego met Sudar while attending the California Culinary Academy. General manager, Daniel Burns, was previously a manager at Betelnut.

Cuisine
Sudar learned to appreciate the diversity of Southeast Asian cuisine from his mother, who ran a successful catering business. As home to the Spice Islands, Southeast Asia played a critical role in historic trade routes, and the region's history of European colonization led to a blend of culinary traditions.

Sudar's menu pays homage to his upbringing, with dishes like Chiang Mai Salad, with fresh green papaya and grilled prawns ($9); Adobo Pinoy, braised Berkshire pork short ribs with a spicy Adobo sauce ($9); Gulai Kambing, a curried Colorado lamb shank with a cardamom-infused yogurt sauce ($17); and Rangoon Clay Pot, Chilean sea bass oven roasted in a clay pot with wild mushrooms, leeks and fermented black bean relish ($22). While many Asian restaurants rely on a mother sauce that serves as the base for all dishes on the menu, Sudar constructs each dish from scratch, with a unique set of ingredients.

The dessert menu (all $8) showcases Southeast Asian home-style sweets, such as Putri Nanas, a pineapple upside-down cake with vanilla gelato and cinnamon-rum sauce. The Ginger Kiss is a ginger-infused egg custard with a tropical fruit compote.

Interior Design
The 3,700-square-foot space, formerly a Social Security office, was renovated following feng shui principles and is packed with $500,000 worth of antique architectural elements hand selected in Asia. Soaring ceilings accommodate a collection of massive red silk lanterns, and a dining mezzanine overlooks the main dining room and lounge, where 42-inch, flat-panel screens display artistic images.

The main dining room and mezzanine provide seating for 100 guests with a mix of upholstered booths and tables constructed from posts, beams and floor panels from century-old homes in the Philippines. The bar seats an additional 55 people and features a 20-seat communal table made from petrified wood recovered from a riverbed in the Philippines.

Beverages
The majority of labels on Red Lantern's wine list are under $50. When possible, wines are sourced from vintners who adhere to sustainable, organic and/or biodynamic practices. The full bar offers specialty cocktails, Asian beers and limited-production sakes. Traditional Thai iced tea and a selection of organic, loose-leaf hot teas are also available.

About Redwood City
Located 30 minutes south of San Francisco, Redwood City is a pedestrian-friendly town filled with historic structures dating back to the mid-19th century. Many buildings have recently undergone restoration, such as the glass-domed Old San Mateo County Courthouse, which is lit up at night. The city spent more than $40 million revitalizing the Courthouse Square area, and it sponsors free events there in the s